what is a cheap way to fix backyard?

Question

right now there is only sand and weeds

Answer 1

It depends on your climate. There's a product that looks like blue sawdust which contains grass seed, fertilizer, and mulch. You simply spread it around evenly (rough up the dirt with a rake first), then keep it moist for a couple of weeks, and you'll have a lawn there.

Grass isn't the most ecologically responsible or efficient, however, and you may want to look into a "creeping" ground cover to plant that will spread and fill in your empty spaces.

Xeriscaping is the process of landscaping with plants that require little water. It's very useful in the southwest, and might be something for your yards.

Answer 2

Buy large stepping stones at Home Depot or Walmart and make a patio (the sand will come in handy)

Around the patio, plant some hedges.

In one area of the yard make a pond and add some flowers and bushes around that area. It could also be made into a sitting or play area by making a border and planting some grass.

From the pond to the patio, make a pathway. Line the pathway with intermittent flowering bushes both high and low.

Get at least a couple of your favorite type of shade trees to shade your backyard windows.

Fill in the rest of the yard with compost soil and plant grass (or ground cover of some type.

Add windchimes and birdfeeders (love those birds) and a barbeque, Umbrella table and chairs and you are ready.

Hope you can see what we did in your minds eye, it looks nice.

Answer 3

Clean out the weeds and get a rake, Zen gardens are fun! You make designs in the sand with the rake and can change it whenever you want to. Put rocks in it, candles at night, seashells etc. Most people have very small zen garden but big is cool!

Answer 4

First step is to take soil samples and take them to your local pest control company, university soil testing lab, or other agricultural lab. Most will do a soil test for $10 or less. It will tell you exactly the current condition of the soil. (be sure to mix samples from several different places in the yard).

Based on this, you may be able to add amendments to the soil, such as lime or sulfur to raise or lower the pH of the soil to your liking, and add the nutrients that grasses and other plants like.

This is the cheapest way to at least see where you stand.

Answer 5

The easiest way to garden with very sandy soil is plant it with plants that like those conditions. I am next to a sand gravel pit that is now a wild life sanctuary so I began gardening on what tested out to be nearly pure silt and sand. It takes years to build organic density in the soil because it washes through with the rain.
The cheapest (free), easiest method I used was wood chips piled on the soil for the microscopic soil denizens to make their own. It took one year for the first 3 inch layer to disappear. But I was beginning to see a darker soil color indicating increased organic levels and greater water retention.
Read her fact sheet/case study on wood chip mulch
http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/~Linda%20Chalker-Scott/Horticultural%20Myths_files/index.html
I suggest doing a simple test to measure its nutrient, pH, and texture. Dig small sample holes 8-18” deep in several areas of the yard. Do not include roots, stones or other large objects. First view the soil. Black color indicates high organic matter; gray indicates medium organic matter and with sand it means lots of quartz. Red, tan or blue color indicates little organic matter and high clay. Blue color indicates that there is no oxygen in the clay.
For a more specific texture test
Optimum soil percentages are: Sand - 30-50%, Silt - 30-50%, Clay - 20- 30%, Organic material - 5-10%.
You need 1 quart jar, ~2 cups water, 1 T water softener OR few drops detergent. Add just enough to separate the minerals not to foam up.
Take a soil slice from the side of the holes you dug. Do not mix the samples & do at least three separate tests.
Fill a quart glass jar about half full with soil. Fill to the top with water. Add one drop dish soap. Shake the jar, but do not swirl. Let stand. Sand will settle in about ten seconds. Silt will settle in two minutes. Clay will take hours to settle. Organic matter will float for a while. Let it sit overnight before measuring.
The thickness of the layers indicates the proportions of sand, silt, clay and organic matter. Measure the total depth then divide each segment by the total depth. Multiply by 100%. This will give you the actual clay silt and sand percentages in your soil.
Repeat in another area if you think the soil may be different.
How to with pictures on the soil test
http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/how-to/articles/hows-your-soil-texture.aspx

Sending a soil sample for testing will tell you the N-P-K and pH of your soil. The results will include a fertilization ratio specific to your garden to keep you from wasting money on unneeded fertilizers.
Using soil test results
http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/C853.htm

For sandy soil try;
Adan's needle Yucca smalliana or Y. fillamentosa, striking
Grapes (either for fruit or colored leaves) Vitis purpurea, for an arbor
Fragrant Sumac, Rhus aromatic, sumacs are another good color source.
Trumpet vine Campsis radican, on a trellis, humming bird feeder you don't have to boil syrup for.
Japanese barberry Berberis thunbergii,
Highbush blueberry vacinium corymbosum, grows well in moist highly acid soils, fall color
Buddleia davidii, butterfly magnet that is very fragrant in summer
Mock Orange Philadelphus coronarius, very fragrant, white flowers in June,
Spiraea japonica, colorful short shrub
Weigela florida
Rhododendrons
Camellias
Amelanchier trees
I grow all of these still so they have transitioned to the new richer soil. I only lime the vegetable area.
www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/HO_225.pdf
http://www.demesne.info/Garden-Help/Solutions/Soil/Sandy-soils.htm
http://lancaster.unl.edu/hort/Articles/2004/plantssandysoils.shtml

Answer 6

Keep it clean
You'd be surprised how just doing that makes a postive difference.
That's just until you're ready to spend some money for topsoil, or build a patio.
Sounds like you have a blank canvas, dream up your ideal yard then break it down into affordable steps.